Where did the formula, "Good works are the fruits of faith," originate?
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A previous question of mine, "What is the biblical basis for the belief that good works are the fruits of faith? " provides examples of Protestant faith statements using the formula, "good works are the fruits of faith," and asks for the biblical basis of that belief.
The answers to that question so far have confirmed my initial thought that the Bible does not say in plain words that good works are the fruits of faith, but that this formula derives from interpretation of various biblical statements.
Here, then, is a follow-up question:
Where in Christian history did the saying, "Good works are the fruits of faith," originate? What theologian or Christian doctrinal statement first used it? Did it originate among Protestant theologians, or was it already in existence in Christian writings prior to the Protestant Reformation?
(*Note:* For the purposes of this question, statements that use close synonyms for or variants of "good works" and "faith" are acceptable, as are statements that use a different word order, and so on, as long as it is basically the same statement. However, I am specifically **not** asking for statements that good works are the fruits or result of *salvation,* or of *love for God,* or of *God working within a person,* and so on—**even if these things are seen as happening through or from or as a result of faith**—or of anything else that isn't precisely *faith* as that is understood within historical or Protestant Christianity. I am looking for the first use within Christian history of the formula, "Good works are the fruits of faith.")
Asked by Lee Woofenden
(8662 rep)
Mar 9, 2017, 10:27 PM
Last activity: Oct 28, 2022, 12:01 PM
Last activity: Oct 28, 2022, 12:01 PM